Method employing amines for cleaning type matrixes



Patented Oct. 28, 1952 METHOD EMPLOYING AMINES FOR CLEANING TYPE 'MATRIXES William Heinecke NeW York, N. Y.

No Drawing-1 Application October 24, 1946,

Serial No. 705,481

This invention relates to the cleaning of metal such as'brass andmore particularly to the cleaning of matrixes used in the casting of integral lines of type.

In the founding of integral lines of type, or in the Linotype process, matrixes for each letter are arranged into a line mold for casting a'slug corresponding to a line of separate type. After the casting of a slug, the individual matrixes are automatically sorted and returned to their respective prearranged locations where they may again, by manually controlled automatic machinery, be arranged to form another mold for another slug.

These matrixes are in fact precision dies. For instance the side walls on some dies for some characters are about .001 inch thick and of height equal to the relief of the cast type. In the founding it is of utmost importance that outer faces of these side walls be fiat against outer faces of those of an adjacent matrix, otherwise a vertical line between letters will be printed from the cast slug.

In use, the matrixes are subjected to extreme pressures to prevent any leakage of molten metal between the several alined matrixes. Moreover it is necessary to insert wedges called space bands between the characters at Word intervals to justify the line of type. These space bands are coated with graphite for lubrication as they must be forced in between the matrixes. In course of time, the matrixes have a coating of graphite built up upon them and the delicate side walls are caved in due to the pressures involved. Also deposits other than graphite occur on the matrixes and are the result of various origins. Such deposits may be lead sulfide, ordinary corrosion due to atmospheric action and particles of dust which are ever present. Another objection to the presence of these deposits or grime is that the character stamped on the edge face of the matrix becomes indistinct so that the operator cannot read the line in the process of composition so that errors frequently occur.

Numerous means for cleaning the matrixes have been employed and are still in use. Brass wire brushes are used extensively on a group of matrixes but only on their ears and toes or other durable parts of the matrix. The side faces are then rubbed manually on a soft pine-board each matrix being handled one at'a time. Since a set of matrixes for each machine may number about 1500 the process is tedious and costly and furthermore the character die is never cleaned at all. One manufacturer recommends the use of 14 Claims. (01'. 134-4) y a rubber eraser, but not on the die. Each of these processes is liable to form grime or burrs which are likely to cave the side walls, aswell as prevent the falling of the matrix from the magazine.

Thus, by these processes no real cleaning is effected except to the extent to make the character.

stamp more easily read;

Many liquid cleaners have been employed. for the removal of the grime from matrixesbut none has been altogether satisfactory. 'Chromic acid has probably been more generally used than any other liquid but this material is highly corrosive so that special materials must be used'forthe cleaning tanks. Furthermore, and of greater importance, chromic acid is corrosive to them-atrixes, usually of brass, so that their dies lose their distinction. Distinction is lost by the'corrosion of side walls, pitting of the die whichcauses specks on the printing, and deepening of the die which raises the type of some letters so that an uneven print job is the result. This corrosion oc curs even though the matrix is washed subsequent to the cleaning, and of course the use of chromic acid is dangerous to the operators. In use the chromic acid gradually becomes exhausted and must be replenished from time to time, always carefully to minimize the corrosion. The chromic acid process requires much time for'each matrix must be laid aside to allow a complete evaporation of the wash water.

I have found that free alkyl amines and alkanol amines are effective at room temperature for the rapid elimination of the grime fro-m the matrix, and yet the brass of the matrix is not attacked. Ordinarily the amines employed are much more volatile than water and certainly more volatile than chromic acid or sulfuric acid which is usually associated with the chromic acid. Hence matrixes may be immersed in the amine and then dried with only an absorber or an air blast. However I prefer to wash the adhering amine from the matrix with a volatile chlorinated hydrocarbon such as carbon tetrachloride or tetrachloroethylene since these two are non-inflammable, Preferably the chlorinated hydrocarbon should con-' tain a small amount of acid material such as hydrochloric acid or sodium bisulfate, the latter preferably since it is heavy enough to remain quiescent at the bottom of the liquid and is ins soluble. Y Finally the amine, or neutralizing wash liquid if the latter is used, is removed from the matrixes by means of an air blast or the matrixes may be tumbled or exposed in an absorberchamber. For example, the matrixes may: be passed overactb .10 the vapor pressure. It has been found that many of the amines almost instantly separatethe grime from the matrixes. I prefer to use amines. such as mono ethanol amine or ethylenediamine since neither of these is extremely volatile-but ye't both are very efiicient. Other amineswhichhmay e.

used include diethyl amine, triethyl aminamethyl. amine, dibutyl amine, tributyl amine, diamyl amine, triamyl amine, diethylamino ethanol; ethyl ethanol amine, eth yldiamino amine, ethyldiethanol' amine, 'butyl ethanol. amine; butyldi.-- ethanol: :amine; .dibuty l' aminov ethanol, diethy-lamino ethanol; and hexylamine;

Generally I prefer. that; the carbon: chains; of the amniecontain less: than: seven: carbon atoms and: when secondary. or tertiary aminesxareaused I prefer the number to be less than s x.

. After-the. matrixes-havebeencleaned theyrare preferably: dipped: i111 Bi solventwash. to remove anyradheningamine: While lspreiergtetracillore: ethylene. as the; solvent: wash. because of its low toxicityanmnoneinfiammability obviously other liquid-washes which. wil-Iremcve the-amine.- zmay berusedl. a .hot air. blast is; u ed: a t e: final bsorber or drier,,;water alone ma be usedsior hewash. Horveven; acid. materialshould pref:- erablyno beused in theawater. s. it adh r tt'thenmatrixand; use corrosion. On. th other hand when a chlorinated hydrocarbon is used-as the liquid sodiumbisuliate OlrQthEI. acid material not, soluble; in the liquid merely absorbs: the amine from. he. liquid by constantv contact therewith. After a longperiod qf use the sulfate salt. may be: r mov d f om. e qu biz-fi t ation and a trash supply:ofbisulfateadded. i p

The; chlorinated. hydri carbon. Wash has the advanta e that no, frequent. changes. ofwash water are. required whichwould either be inconvenientif supplied. manually orprequirepipe connections if supplied more or:less automatically.

The; Wish liquid need not be. pure. carbon tetrachlorideeor the-like.- for. I-. may employ. .a. mixture ofr-othyl or; isonropyl alcohol. and carbon. tetra: chloridewhich willanot, be inflammable.- Sim.- ilarlytrichloroethy-lene beused-with the alcohols Infantthe, only major requirements of thewash liquid are. that it. be; a. solvent tor the amine, readily, evaporated and not. corrosive. to thematrix. Howeverv noh-infiammability .enablcszthe use of a simpletank.

The, adherin washliquidmay be removed frointhe matrix by well, knownmeansas by. an air .blast. which. will. not-contain abrasive .materialtoinjure the definitionv of. theI code. slot orthecharactermolds..

Ill-he. reason-.,-for the activity of aminesin the cleaningof: the matrixes is. not understood. some amines. have beenknown tobe good de-. eraasinaaeents; and; vet dear a ine a ents. have been almost universally rejected for cleaning matitixes in favor; of; the: chromic; acid treatment. (.lhromicz. acid is apparently effective; by virtue; of its strong oxidizing or corrosive properties-and yet; ethylene; diamine; used: asra. corrosion ine hibitorcin antiefreezexsolutionst is. very effective for loosing the graphite and lead sulfide from the matrix. The problem has evidently been solved by applicant in a way different from the mere dissolving of grease. Perhaps the initial action of the amine dissolves grease and then complex copper or zinc ions form a protective film on the surface of the matrix and this film may'work itself under partieles'of' lead; sulfide or graphite causing the latter to slough ofi.

The choice of a particular amine will depend on the requirements of each individual situation as. determined. by the requirements for speed, fume; confinement, ventilation, exposure to fire and the like. Thus Where speed is especially requiredlprefer to use amines having less than three carbon atoms to each aliphatic group, such as t the-melamine; ethylenediamine, ethylethanol amine, ethyldiethanolamine, diethyl amine. Obviouslit various mixtures of these amines, or others mentioned herein; may be blended to form liquids having different degrees of viscosity or volatility. For meta/nae. .methyl' amine. alone would requirespecial.carebecause ofitslow boiling point, however if it is mixed with. viscous ethanolamine the..mixtur,e.- is. safe, and will not adhere to thematrixto thesame. degree as.-will thano am ne- The invention. claimed'i i l. A. method. $0.1. cleaning grime. containing lead. sulfide. and. graphite. from. brass matrixes or integral...1.ine p and compri ing. washin th matrixesatroom temperatureina free amine which is. li'qui'diat room temperature.

2. A method for removing lead" sulfideLand graphite. from brass. matrixes for inte ral. lin type. and .compri'sinegwashin the matrixes at room t'empeiatmein ethylenediamine, the latter having, the double .fmiction of a ci aner'and corrosioninhi'billor...

34A. method for ridding brass matrixes of grimecontaining leadsulfide. and graphite which mc hodpompri'ses washing. thematrixes at room temperature in an aliphatic amine which is liquid at room temperature.

4. A method as inclaim' 3" said amine being a primary. amine. an any carbon chain thereof having less than seven carbon atoms.

' ,5. A method as in claim 3" said. aminehaving more than one carbon chain attached to. the nitrogen and" any chain having. less than six carbon atoms in thecha'in; v

.6.. A method. for removing grime containing lead suifide and graphite from brass matrixes. for integral linetype, said methodcompris-ing wash ingthe matrixesat'roomtemperatureiin an alkan01 amine which is liquid at room temperature, the amine being-substantially in the free state.

7. A method as:in claim 6 said alkanol amine having more: than one alkyl radical joined to the nitrogen of: theamineand each such radical havless" than six carbon atoms therein.

8-. A method as in' claim 6 said alkanol amine being an ethanol amine.

9. A method as in claim 6' saicl1aljkanol amine being.monoethanolamine,

.10; A methodfor removing. grime. largely composed, of lead sulfide. and: graphite from. brass matrixes'for. integral linetype, said method comprising: washing at. room: temperature the brass matri-xes an aliphatic. amine. which is. liquid at room temperature,- and-then .rinsingthematrix ingai chlorinated hydrocarbon liquid" having an insoluble:- acid agent thereinwithout contacting the'matrix: with the acid:agent-whereby the chlorinated ydrocarbonabsorbsthe amine .i-romthe 5 6 matrix and the amine is subsequently fixed with REFERENCES CITED v the acid agent.

11. A method as in claim 10, said agent being g? ,fgi fgfig fi are m the an alkali metal bisulfate.

12. A method as in claim 11, said aliphatic 15 UNITED STATES PATENTS amine having less than five carbons in any chain Number Name t thereof. 1,642,419 Loew Sept. 13, 1927 13. A method as in claim 12 and said aliphatic 1,737,739 Love11 et, a1, Jan, 6, 1931 amine being an alkanol amine. 1,924,892 Tuttle Aug. 29, 1933 14. A method as in claim 13 said alkanol amine 10 1,934,076 Lieber Nov. 7, 1933 beingamonoethanol amine. 2,326,837 Coleman Aug. 17, 1943 WILLIAM HEINECKE- 2,418,909 Skinner Apr. 15, 1947 

1. A METHOD FOR CLEANING GRIME CONTAINING LEAD SULFIDE AND GRAPHITE FROM BRASS MATRIXES FOR INTEGRAL LINE TYPE AND COMPRISING WASHING THE MATRIXES AT ROOM TEMPERATURE IN A FREE AMINE WHICH IS LIQUID AT ROOM TEMPERATURE. 